Gravity fire-door.



P. MESKER, HLF. EDWARDS, C. B. SMITH, G. P. STEPHENS & W. J. SEELE.

GRAVITY FIRE DOOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY a1, 1913.

Patented May 12, 1914.

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F. MESKER, H. P. EDWARDS, C. E. SMITH, G. F. STEPHENS & W. J. SEELB.

GRAVITY FIRE DOOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1913.

Patented May 12, 1914.

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NIE STATES PATENT OFFIOE.

FRANK MESKER, HENRY F. EDWARDS, CLARENCE E. SMITH. GEORGE F. STEPHENS,

AND WILLIAM J. SEELE, OF ST. LOUIS, BROTHERS IRON COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS MISSOURI, ASSIGNORS T0 MESKER MISSOURI. A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

GRAVITY FIRE-DOOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1 2, 1914.

Application filed May 31, 1913. Serial No. 770.998.

To all or]: om it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK. lVl'nsnnn, HENRY F. Enwinns, CLARENCE E. SMITH, Gnonon F. STEPHENS, and WVILLIAM J. Simon, citizens of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improve ment in Gravity Fire-Doors, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 a front elevation. Fig. 2 is an elevational section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevational section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal section on line 4% of Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is an elevational section with the door open. Fig. 6 is a detail showing the interlocking arrangement of the panels.

The object of our invention is to provide an economical and easily installed closure for wall openings which is certain and quick in its operation, and which is adapted for use as an ordinary weather closure as well as a fire closure.

A further object of our invention is to devise such a closure which occupies but small space when in open position, which may be opened and closed with ease and without special equipment, and which is provided with a simple and efficient interlocking construction forming a secure fire and weather locking joint,

Other objects of our invention will be obvious or hereinafter pointed out.

By reference to the drawings, .it will be understood that the members indicated by numeral 1 are channel members which are designed to be secured at the sides of the wall opening, so as to form guides and sup ports for the door panels and their operating members. Channel members 1 preferably are rolled out of sheet metal, and of course may be designed to accommodate any requisite number of the panels 2-, the lateral edges of which slide in the guide slots 1 of the members 1. Mounted at the top of the channel members 1 are series of rollers 4i over which pass suspension chains 5 by which the panels 2 are suspended. Counter weights 6 are suspended on chains 5 and operate to cmmter-balance the panels 2 in the usual fashion.

By reference to Fig. 6, it will be understood that the top and bottom edges of the panel members 2 are turned over suitable rei nforcing strips 7 which serve to stiffen the panels longitudinally and afford securing means for the suspension chains. The lower edges of the panels after being bent about the reinfm-cing strips 7 are turned upwardly to form lower interlocking members 8, and the upper edges of the panels are turned downwardly to form similar locking members 9 designed to cooperate with the lower locking members 8 of the juxtaposed panel. At the top of the wall opening is secured a lock strip 10, extending across the openin which cooperates with the locking member 9 of the uppermost panel. The suspension chains are secured to all but the lowermost panel by any suitable securing means which is seated in the upper overhanging portions of the panels. The suspension chains for the lowermost panel are adapted to operate freely through suitable guides or eyes 12, and are secured together by a fusible link 14, or other suitable connection, although it is obvious that they may be attached to the panel in the same fashion as are the chains to the other panels.

As shown in Fig. 3, the weights (5 are arranged so as to slide over one another with out catching or interfering, and are inclosed in a suitable wall box 15. as illustrated in Fig. -t.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that each of the several panels is counterbalanced lll(ll\l(llltlll and suspended on its suspension chains. \Vhen the door is closed by the panels being drawn down, the look ing member t) of each panel interlocks with the locking member 8 of the next higher panel, forming a secure weather andtirc lock entirely across the wall opening, and also affording an engagement between the panels whereby movement imparted to the hiwernmsl' panel to close the door will be imparted successively to the upper panels to draw them downward. llhen the door is opened. the oven-hanging portions of the lower panels engage progressively those of the uppcr panels, by virtue of which engagement movement imparted to the lowermost panel to open the door is imparted to the successive upper panels to move them upwardly.

By reference to Fig. 5, it will be seen that when the door is open the panels occupy but little space at the top of the wall opening, where they are entirely out of the way and therefore not liable to any interference which would tend to render the door inoperative in case of emergency. In case of fire, the melting of the fusible link 14 by the heat releases the suspension chains of the lowermost panel, allowing the weights of said panel to drop, and therefore allowing the lowermost panel to fall. As the lowermost panel falls, it engages the next higher panel, and overbalancing its weights draws it downward, so that it engages the next higher panel, which in turn engages the next higher, and so on. This operation is rapid and positive, so that the wall opening is immediately closed upon the fusing of the link 14.

By reference to Fig. 6, it will be seen that a very close and secure fire and weather lock between the panels is afforded by the interlocking members 8 and 9. It being understood that the left hand side of said figure represents the outside of the door,

it is obvious that the lower overhanging members of the panels form water tables,

and that the joints are well protected by their sheltered position.

l/Ve are aware that various modifications may be made in the construction shown and described without departing from the scope of our invention, and it is, therefore, our intention that our invention as claimed be construed to cover all obvious modifications and adaptations.

We claim:

1. A closure for wall. openings comprising grooved jamb members disposed vertically at the sides of the wall opening, a plurality 1 of panels extending across the wall opening and each seated in separate grooves in the amb members, indlvidual suspension and Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,

balancing means for each of said panels whereby each panel may be moved independently of the others, said panels being provided with means affording operative engagement between juxtaposed panels when they are moved upwardly, means on said panels providing operative engagement and closed joints across the wall opening when said panels are drawn downwardly, and means permitting release of the lowermost panel. from its balancing means to permit its falling under its own weight.

2. A closure for door openings comprising the combination of jamb members disposed at the sides of the wall opening and provided with a plurality of vertical guides, a plurality of independently movable panels engaging said guides for vertical movement, a series of rollers supported at the top of said jamb members, a plurality of flexible suspension members operating over said rollers and supporting said panels indepemlently, independent counterbalancing weights for each of said panels carried by said flexible suspension members, said panels being provided with interlocking members extending across the wall opening whereby upper panels may be drawn down by downward movement of lower panels, said interlocking members forming fire'and weather locks between the panels, and a means permitting release of the lowermost panel from its suspension members to permit its falling to transmit movement to higher panels to close the wall opening.

In testimony whereof, we hereunto affix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses, this 29th day of May, 191.3.

FRANK MESKER. HENRY F. EDWARDS. CLARENCE E. SMITH.

EEORGE F. STEPHENS. WILLIAM J. SEELE. Vitnesses M. P. SMITH, M. A. HANDEL.

by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, 3). Ct 

